Southwest Vacation - Day 7

Friday morning we got up and first order of business was to head to the famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.  You know the one on "Pawn Stores". We were hoping to catch a glimpse of Rick,  Big Hoss, Chumlee or the Old Man...but no such luck, they were "in a meeting."  The shop itself was pretty interesting, seeing some of the items that we'd seen on the show and they are making a mint on souvenir t-shirts, mugs and various other sundries.  There were security guards inside and outside!  CRAZY!  I was a little surprised by how small it was...it looks much bigger and impressive on TV!

 

 

Next stop was breakfast!  First place we saw was Denny's, so that's where we stopped!  Now, it's become one of our favorite places!

Next stop:  The World's Largest Gift Shop!  (to pick up a few souvenirs)

Then we decided to drive to the far end of the strip and park and then walk that end of the strip. 

MGM Grand was impressive with its miracle mile of shops and huge casino.  They also have three lions that are kept in the Lion Habitat, but they were pretty lazy.  Another of their attractions is the CSI Experience where you get to analyze forensic evidence and test your investigative skills.  I think my brother in law, Andrew, would love that.



This was amazing to me...screens and screens of sporting events
 to bet on.  They even posted odds on the upcoming
Arkansas game.  pretty wild!



The Mirage offered a tribal volcano/fire/water show that was entertaining as well.

The Venetian had outdoor and indoor gondola rides around its property with an authentic Italian to serenade you along the ride.  Our Gondolier was Figaro.

New York, New York was all right.  It had very interesting architecture details inside but not quite as over the top as some of the resorts.  They did have a Coyote Ugly bar that I thought would probably be pretty fun.



Replica of the Brooklyn Bridge



 

See the miniature Coney Island in the background?




Restaurant where you literally choose
your

Made ENTIRELY of jelly beans.

 



















Before we headed back to our room to rest for a bit we decided to have a snack at the Hooter's Casino so Mark could add another location to his list. 

Here's a few more shots from the strip.



The Monte Carlo

  

The Excalibur


 

The Luxor





Ipods, Software, Cell Phones from a vending machine -- REALLY?



Harley Davidson Cafe

 

Rent your Dream Car for cruising the Strip.

Big Spender didn't win anything, but this girl won $19.00 on a Quarter Slot machine!
Not bad odds.

 After a little nap, we ventured back out to the strip for a gondola ride and dinner.  Although our choice was the Cheesecake Factory, we found ourselves way down on the seating list so we opted for Mr. Taco in the cafe court of the Fashion Mall!  Nothing fancy, but good.  We saw a couple of guys wearing Hog Shirts -- kinda funny seeing someone from Arkansas so far from home.

My take on Vegas is too many people, open drunkenness, overwhelming number of casinos with their smoke, lights and noise, brazen prostitution from girls walking the street to vendors handing out girlie cards inviting you to their show to trucks driving around with pictures of life size scantily clad girls advertising "Hot Babes" - we deliver - college girls $69. -

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am not prudish or relatively naive, but this was all just a little too much for me -- Been there, done that -- it is appropriately names "Sin City."